6Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,G1352G863G746G3056G5547G5342G1909G5047G3361G2598G3825G2310G3341G575G3498G2041G2532G4102G1909G23162instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.G1322G909G5037G1936G5495G5037G386G3498G2532G166G29173And God permitting, we will do so.G2532G5124G4160G1437G4007G2316G20104It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,G1063G102G530G5461G5037G1089G2032G1431G2532G1096G3353G40G41515who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age,G2532G1089G2570G4487G2316G5037G1411G165G31956if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.G2532G3895G340G3825G1519G3341G388G1438G5207G2316G388G2532G38567Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.G1063G1093G3588G4095G5205G2064G4178G1909G846G2532G5088G1008G2111G1565G2532G1223G3739G1090G3335G2129G575G23168But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.G1161G1627G173G2532G5146G96G2532G1451G2671G3739G5056G1519G27409Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.G1161G27G3982G2909G4012G5216G2532G2192G4991G1499G2980G3779G298010God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.G1063G2316G3756G94G1950G5216G2041G2532G2873G26G3739G1731G1731G1519G846G3686G1247G40G2532G124711We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.G1161G1937G1538G5216G1731G846G4710G4314G4136G1680G891G505612We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.G3363G1096G3363G3576G1161G3402G1223G4102G2532G3115G2816G1860
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,G1063G2316G1861G11G1893G2192G3660G2596G3762G3187G3660G2596G143814saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."G3004G2229G3375G2127G2127G4571G2532G4129G4129G457115And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.G2532G3779G3114G2013G186016Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.G1063G444G3303G3660G2596G3187G2532G3727G1519G951G846G4009G3956G48517Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.G1722G3739G2316G1014G4054G1925G2818G1860G276G846G1012G3315G372718God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.G2443G1223G1417G276G4229G1722G3739G102G2316G5574G2192G2478G3874G3588G2703G2902G1680G429519We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,G3739G2192G5613G45G5590G5037G804G2532G949G2532G1525G1519G2082G266520where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.G3699G4274G1525G5228G2257G1525G2424G1096G749G1519G165G2596G5010G3198
Prayer Tents is a Christian mission organization that serves Christians around the world and their local bodies to make disciples ("evangelize") more effectively in their communities. Prayer Tents provides resources to enable Christians to form discipleship-focused small groups and make their gatherings known so that other "interested" people may participate and experience Christ in their midst. Our Vision is to make disciples in all nations through the local churches so that anyone seeking God can come to know Him through relationships with other Christians near them.
Columbus, OH
